CKUA brings thank-you tour to Medicine Hat
CKUA’s “Touch the Transmitter Tour” stopped in Medicine Hat Thursday morning at Inspire Cafe to say thank you to local listeners for their ongoing support of Alberta’s only donor-supported radio station.
The six-day, cross-province tour coincides with the anniversary of a dark chapter in the broadcaster’s history, when it was briefly shut down 20 years ago before a great outpouring of grassroots support brought the station back on the air after receiving $1 million in donations in less than a month.
“Freeway” host David Ward was an employee of CKUA during that dark period, and was one of the radio personalities who embarked on the original fundraising tour.
“When we did the first tour, we didn’t know if there would ever be a second tour,” remembered Ward. “But the communities we serve are warm, generous and kind people. Their contributions, and love, have kept us afloat for the past 20 years.”
Accompanying Ward on the tour this year is CKUA newcomer Hayley Muir.
“It’s been gruelling in the most wonderful way possible,” said Muir. “Everywhere we’ve gone people have just been so warm and welcoming, and excited to meet us. It’s been really great to see the groundlevel impact CKUA has on people. Our listeners are the best.”
Ina Visser, co-owner of the Ye Olde Jar Bar, was one of about two dozen locals on hand to welcome Ward and Muir to Medicine Hat. Visser said she couldn’t imagine her life without CKUA in it.
“When CKUA came back on the air (20 years ago) I had just gotten off work, and I turned the radio on, and there it was,” remembered Visser. “I had to stop at the side of the road. I cried I was so happy to have them back on the air.”
David Gue was also at Inspire Cafe on Thursday. His dad Lesley once produced educational broadcasts for CKUA in the 1950s. Gue himself also produced weekly broadcasts for CKUA about campus life back in his college days in the 1960s. Gue said CKUA has always brought something special to the airwaves that commercial radio could never offer.
“How many minutes of music do you actually get in an hour of commercial radio? When you take out the nonsensical blather the hosts have to put in? CKUA has been an incredible outlet. Not just for Alberta performers who haven’t hit the big time yet, but it is also an opening to famous people who are performing here. I just think it’s a totally cool radio station,” said Gue.